Funnel



Nov. 12, 1946. J. MADDEN FUNNEL Filed Sept. 17, 1945 r I a.

INVENTOR 41w J flamamw BY x 4 W fi/oww ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12,1946

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUNNEL Leo J. Madden, Whitesboro, N. Y., asslgnor to Skenandoa Rayon Corporation, Utica, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,933

'7 Claims. 1

My present invention-relates to a funnel for spinning rayon and more particularly to such a funnel construction as may be-of peculiar utility and advantage in the pot spinning process for viscose rayon in which such a funnel is vertically reciprocated by a traverse mechanism and operates in conjunction with a spinning pot wherein the rayon thread is collected as it is formed.

It hasbeen customary in the prior art to construct funnels of this'kind from a single integral body of glass formed to provide certain constricted portions at spaced intervals along the stem of the funnels and a constricted portion at the tip or lower end thereof. These glass funnels are relatively cheap, but are objectionable from certain points of view. In the first place, being of glass, they may be shattered in use and particles of broken glass get into the spun cake, damaging a substantial amount of yarn or thread being formed. Furthermore, as they are formed as a one-piece body, it is difficult to clean the interior thereof thoroughly, which must be .done from time to time. This condition arises frequently in commercial operation due to the accumulation of foreign matter inside the funnel itself, which matter is reddish in color, so that it is conventionally termed a red deposit. The exact character of this deposit is not known, but it is suspected that it is to a substantial part at least composed of sulfur and certain lead salts which are formed by the reaction of some of the chemicals of the spinning bath upon the lead lining of the container for that bath. However, irrespective of its exact character or chemical compositicn, it is a source of trouble in commercial operation and must periodically be cleaned outof the funnels being used before this accumulation is permitted to cause actual and substantial damage to the thread being formed. 'This cleaning operation is of a quite drastic character, and normally includes both mechanical cleaning and also the treatment of the parts to be cleaned with suitable chemical solutions. Furthermore, during thenormal operation of the device in the piecing up or initial starting of the formation of a new cake, it is usual to eifect the passage of the thread through the funnel by washing a loose end of thethread downwardly by the use of a small cupful of the spinning bath. Thus the interior of the funnel is subjected at this time to the acid of this bath. Furthermore, during the continuous operation of the unit with which the funnel is being operated, the thread carries along with it some of the acid and/or other chemicals of the bath, whichhave a chemical erosive action upon the glass.

The thread passing through the funnel also has a physical abrading action upon those portions of the funnel with which it comes into contact, particularly the tip portion thereof, this being accentuated when so-called chalk luster yarn is being made. This yarn is delustered by the admixture with the material of which the yarn is made of a quantity of very fine particles of pigment. This pigment, which is usually of an inorganic nature, increases the abrading action of the thread on the funnel and also causes an increased fraying action on the thread due to passage over a rough surface of the funnel.

For all these reasons it has been found that glass funnels do not stand up in practice except for a relatively short time in a condition such that they will not in effect injure or sometimes even cause breakage of the thread or yarn. Furthermore, roughnesses in the interior of a funnel may cause substantial difficulty in the piecing up of the unit. Someof these difficulties are caused by the presence of rough portions so slight as to escape observation upon even fairly careful inspection. Furthermore, as the glass funnels now conventionally used 'in the art are all in one piece, the inside thereof is not readily accessible for cleaning. Also, any one portion of a onepiece glass funnel, which may be worn or otherwise damaged as aforesaid, will require the replacement of the entire funnel.

It has been proposed, for example, in the patents to Haley Nos. 2,320,598 and 2,320,591, both granted June 1, 1943, to form funnels'for this same general purpose in various sections or portions, so that the portions thereof may be removed and replaced without requiring the discarding of the entire device. However, even in these structures, accessibility to the interior portions is quite diflicult, and there is an absence of internal streamlining, which is one of the objects of the present invention.

A primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a funnel of the character described, which is made up of a plurality of parts, so constructed and arranged that they can be taken apart, inspected, easily and thoroughly cleaned, and individually replaced as may be necessary,

A further and more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a funnel made up of parts, which are individually of erosion and wearresistant materials including particularly an outer-tube forming the stem portion of the funnel a material.

which is made up of a plurality of portions mating longitudinally so that when these portions are disassembled, the several parts may-be easily accessible for thorough inspection, cleaning, replacement, or repair.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a funnel construction as above generally set forth, wherein there is provided a tip insert of material resistant to both the chemical erosive action to which it may be subjected in use and to the physical abrasion incident to such use; and

- wherein provision is made for holding this tip in sert rigidly and non-rotatably in the lower end ing of the portions 2 and 3,

in any suitable manner. In the form shown in Fig. 1, for example, it is contemplatedthat the inserts B will be secured in the associated recesses preferably by means of a suitable cement, al-

though this is not always necessary, and in some instances may be wholly omitted if desired. If

' such cement is used, the amount thereof should tion showing a funnel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are views in transverse section of the embodiment of the invention shownin Fig. 1 respectively on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 thereof;

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, showing a modified form of means for positively holding one of. the inserts in its desired position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similarto the lower end portion of'Fig. 1 showing a modified construction i and 1 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5 showing a further modification.

Turning now to the accompanying drawing, and particularly Figs. 1 to 3 thereof showing one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a funnel having an outer tubular member generally indicated at i. This member comprises a plurality, in this case two, portions 2 and L7 mating longtiudinally on a central longitudinal piane as indicated by the division line or plane i. The portions 2 and 3 of the member 8 may be formed independently as by molding, or may be formed by cutting a tube of suitable material along the linear plane A. These portions are preferably formed of some suitable acid-resistant material such as a laminated phenolic resinous body.

There are formed in the portions 2 and 3 suitable, similarly disposed, semi-annular recesses 5, which, when the portions 2 and 3 are in their assembledrelation, as shown in Fig. 1, join to form annular recesses. Positioned by and within these recesses are a plurality of thread-guiding insert 6, which may be of any desired suitable It has been found that the requirements for these inserts are that they should be of a material which may be formed or polished to a, hard, smooth, thread-contacting surface,

and that the shape of this surface should be internally completely convex considered from the point of view of the center line of the funnel, that is as seen in a vertical central section such a that of Fig. 1, wherein the surfaces in question are shown at 1. Any desired number of such inserts may be employed, three being shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the configuration or conformation of the inserts and the shape and depth of the recesses 5 are such that when the parts are in assembled relation, there will be substantially no grooves, slot or recesses left open for the accumulation of foreign matter, so that the funnel as a whole may be internally streamlined.

The recesses 5 may be formed during the formbe less than that required to cover the outside surfaces of the inserts 6, so thatupon the assembly of the parts, the cement will not be squeezed into the space intended to be free within the funnel, and through which the thread passes.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of this construction, wherein there is provided a relative thin layer 8 of material, preferably of a resilient character such as rubber, around the inserts 6, separating them from the bottoms of the recesses 5 and insuring the holding of the inserts 6 rigidly but resiliently in a desired position within the portions 2 and 3. 1

Associated with the upper end of the funnel of Fig. 1 is a substantially conical mouthpiece generally indicated at 9, and having a depending -sleeve H) for containing and holding together the upper ends of the portions 2 and 3. If desired, a small amount of cement may be applied onto the outside of the upper portions 2 and 3 to'be received within the sleeve ill. The mouthpiece 9 further ha a portion H adjacent to the lower end of the conical portionthereof and defining the minimum diameter opening at H as substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the tubular member I. In the form shown,

this portion ll also serves as the upper end of the recess 5 for receiving the uppermost of the inserts 6 and extends over the upper ends of the members 2 and 3. The mouthpiece 8 may be of any uitable material, such as that of which the members 2 and 3 are constructed as aforesaid.

At the lower end of the funnel there is positioned atip insert H, which has an external flange M at its upper end adapted to be received in a suitable annular groove, shaped to correspond 'with the shape of the flange M and to bind upon this flange to hold the tip insert i3 rigidly in the lower end of the portions 2 and 3. In order to prevent relative rotation between the tip insert and the funnel, it is preferred that the flange M be non-circular in horizontal contour. This may be effected in any desired manner, for; example, a by forming this flange with a lug l5 thereon as shown best in Fig. 3, which is received in a complementarily shaped indentation extending from the recess receiving the flange It.

For holding the parts in assembled relation in conjunction with the sleeve In, there is provided adjacent to the lower endof the funnel a collar IE, which may surround the lower end of the portions 2 and 3 and be suitably secured thereto as by some suitable cement.

The material of the inserts 6 and I3 is preferably hard and abrasion-resistant as aforesaid, and also resistant to the chemical erosive action of the acid to which it is almost constantly subjected in use and to the chemical solutions to which it may be subjected for purposes of cleaning. While the present invention is not limited specifically as to the character of this material, it has been found that lava is a suitable material for making these parts.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a modification of the construction of the lower end portion of the embodiment of Fig. 1, wherein instead of the collar I6 surrounding a uniform outside dior may be cut therein i no non-uniformity in the outside contour of the tubular member I substantially throughout its length, or at least throughout that portion thereof which is normally introduced into the spinning pot (not shown) with which the funnel is associated in use. Such a construction has several practical advantages as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The collar I! may be similarly cemented or otherwise secured to the lower end portion of the tubular member I" as above stated for the collar 16.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown at I8 a somewhat diflerent form of tip insert, generally equivalent in function to that of the tip insert i3 previously described. In this case the outer flange, generally indicated at H, is formed in an outwardly directed wedge shape as by the provision of suitable frusto-conical portions meeting at their bases. The groove within which this flange is received is complementary in shape to this flange 19. Thus, if there is a slight relief between the meeting surfaces of the members 2 and 3 at the plane 4, the gripping action of these two portions upon their assembly will tend to accommodate slight changes in the outside diameter of the flange ill or the depth of the associated groove as by wear or slight irregularities of manufacture or otherwise, so' that the tip insert it will always be rigidly held in its desired position at the lower end of the funnel.

The rigid and non-rotatable character of the means for holding the tip insert in the lower end i of the funnel are of substantial importance, as it has been found that a loosely held tip insert will wear out the supporting tube portions 2 and 3 very quickly.

It has been found that a. funne1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is remark ably free from various of the diiliculties incident to the use of prior art constructions, in that the parts are rigidly held in position as aforesaid, yet the funnel as a whole maybe disassembled for the adequate and thorough cleaning of all the parts thereof in any suitable and/or conventional manner. Furthermore, if some one part becomes slightly worn, it may be resurfaced or repolished; or if that wear is too great, it may be: replaced without at the same time replacing the entire device. By reason of the fact that the inserts 6 are'all interchangeable, but one type of replacement inserts need be kept on hand for this purpose. Due to the streamlined interior contour of the funnel, it'has been found possible to piece up" the unit with facility in starting the operation for the making of a new cake of yarn or thread. In general, the apparatus specifically described accomplishes all the objects hereinabove stated and others which are not given in detail.

While there is shown and described but one principal embodiment of the invention and but a few variants thereof, it is contemplated that these or further changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims, which are to be construed validly as broadly as the state of th prior art permits,

What is claimed is:

1. A funnel for spinning rayon, comprising an outer tubular member formed of at least two portions mating longitudinally, each of said portions having a plurality of similarly disposed annular recesses, a plurality of thread-guiding inserts positioned in and spaced by said recesses in the assembled relation of the parts, a substantially conical mouthpiece having a depending sleeve for containing and holding together the upper ends of said portions, a tip insert having an external flange, an annular recess adjacent to the lower ends of said portions for receiving said external flange to hold said tip insert rigidly in a predetere mined position at the lower end of said funnel, and means for holding the lower ends of said portions and all said inserts in assembled relation.

2. A funnel for spinning rayon in accordance with claim 1, wherein said external flange of said tip insert'and the recess in the lower end of said portions for receiving said flange are both complementarily shaped and non-circular in horizontal cross-section, so that said tip insert is nonrotatably and rigidly secured in the lower end of said funnel in the assembled position of the parts.

3. A funnel for spinning rayon in accordance with claim 1, comprising in addition, a layer of resilient material in said first named recessesbe tween said portions and said inserts for rigidly and resiliently positioning said inserts in such recesses in the assembled position of the parts.

4; A funnel for spinning rayon in accordance with claim 1, comprising in addition, an amount of cementitious material only partially covering the outer surface of each of said inserts and interposed between such inserts and said portions for holding said inserts rigidly in the recesses of said portions in the assembled position of the parts.

5. A funnel for spinning rayon in accordance with claim 1, wherein said external flange of said tip insert is formed of two substantially frustoconical portions meeting at their bases, and wherein the recess adjacent to the lower end of said portions for receiving said flange is correspondingly shaped, the parts being so constructed and arranged that upon the clamping together of said portions adjacent to their lower ends, the tip insert will be rigidly and non-rotatabl secured in its predetermined position in respect to said funnel and slight variations in the diameter of said flange portion and its associated recess will be compensated by the shape thereof.

6. A funnel for spinning rayon, comprising an outer tubular member formed of a pair of similar portions mating longitudinally, each of said portions having a plurality of similarly disposed semiannular recesses, a plurality of interchangeable thread-guiding inserts positioned in and spaced by said recesses in the assembled position oi the parts, a substantially conical mouthpiece having a depending sleeve for containing and holding together the upper ends of said portions and having its lower inner end of an internal diameter substantially equal to the inside'diameter of said tubular member, a tip insert having an external flange adjacent to its upper end, an annular recess adjacent to the lower ends of said portions for receiving said external flange to hold said tip insert rigidly in a predetermined position at the lower thread-guiding inserts positioned in and spaced by said recesses in the assembled position of the parts, a substantially conical mouthpiece having. 2. depending sleeve for containing and holding together the upper ends of said portions and having an opening at the lowerend of the conical portion thereof, the inside diameter of which is substantially equal to the inside diameter of said tubular member when the portions thereof are assembled together, a tip insert having a non-circular external flange, an annular recess shaped complementarily to said flange adjacent to the lower ends of said portions for receiving said external flange so as to hold said tip insert rigidly and non-rotatably in a predetermined position at the lower end of said funnel, all said inserts and all said recesses for receiving them being of such size and so constructed and arranged that said funnel, upon the assembly of the parts thereof, is internally streamlined, an amount of cement only partially covering the external surface of each of said inserts applied thereto to secure the parts in rigid assembled relation, and an annular, substantially cylindrical collar member associated with the lower ends of said portions and cooperating with said depending sleeve in holding said portions and said inserts in assembled relation.

. LEO J. MADDEN. 

